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Dermatomyositis (DM) is an idiopathic inflammatory myositis (IIM) characterized by skin manifestations and muscle involvement. Spontaneous intramuscular hemorrhage (SIH) is a fatal complication that is very rare in the course of DM, but not well known to rheumatologists. Our aim was to determine the frequency and possible risk factors of DM-related SIH. A retrospective analysis was conducted on a cohort of DM patients who were observed in the rheumatology department of the university hospital between 1998 and January 2024. The clinical, laboratory, radiological data of the patients and the treatments they received during the follow-up were analyzed. To determine possible risk factors for the development of SIH in the course of DM, our patients with DM were analyzed together with other rare SIH cases in the literature. The study included 42 of our DM patients. 32 of the patients (76.2%) were female. The median age of the patients was 53 (24-82) years, the median age of DM diagnosis of the patients was 47 (18-75) years, and the median duration of DM of the patients was 36 (2-276) months. 7.1% of patients had dysphagia, and 16.7% had intertitial lung disease (ILD). 5 (11.9%) patients were diagnosed with malignancy. The incidence rate of SIH development in our DM cohort was 0.238/100 patient years (95% CI 0.006-1.256). We tried to identify independent risk factors for SIH development by comparing our 41 DM patients without SIH with the data of patients with 23 DM-related SIH collected from the literature by adding our 1 patient (24 pts). Male sex (OR 4.97, 95% CI 1.66-14.92, p = 0.003), ILD presence (OR 9.71, 95% CI 2.99-31.47, p < 0.001), anti-MDA5 positivity (OR 16.0, 95% CI 1.60-159.3, p = 0.006), anti-Ro52 positivity (OR 11.6, 95% CI 2.93-46.34, p < 0.001), heparin use (OR 4.42, 95% CI 2.68-7.24, p < 0.001), intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) use (OR 11.7, 95% CI 2.26-60.54, p < 0.001), and steroid dose (OR 1.03, 95% CI 1.00-1.05, p = 0.005) were identified as risk factors for the development of SIH in the univariate analysis. The death rate due to hemorrhage was 50%. No single risk factor was found to be associated with death. As a result, SIH may occasionally arise in patients with DM. Rheumatologists should be aware that patients with dysphagia and/or ILD, who are on heparin, getting high doses of steroids, and test positive for anti-MDA5 and/or anti-Ro52 antibodies may develop SIH in the early stages of DM., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Dermatomyositis (DM) is a rare systemic autoimmune disease that is associated with inflammation of the skin and muscles. It typically presents with weakness of the proximal muscles along with characteristic skin lesions such as Gottron's papules and heliotrope rash. One of the most feared complications of this disease is the appearance of spontaneous hemorrhagic myositis, as most reported cases are fatal. The mechanism or risk factors of this condition have not been elucidated; however, prophylactic anticoagulation has been correlated with it in previous case reports, although idiopathic hemorrhagic myositis may also be present. We present a case of spontaneous intramuscular hemorrhage (SIH) in a recently diagnosed DM patient. A 59-year-old Hispanic male with a medical history of recently diagnosed prostate cancer and DM presented to the emergency department (ED) due to worsening anemia. His previous hemoglobin (Hgb) was 9 g/dl, but repeated laboratory tests revealed a level of 6.5 g/dl and later 5.5 g/dl at the ED. On admission, the patient was afebrile, tachycardic, and normotensive, with no overt sign of gastrointestinal bleeding. The physical exam revealed an ecchymosis on the right medial aspect of the thigh, and a digital rectal exam was negative. Computer tomography (CT) of the abdomen and pelvis without contrast was ordered due to suspicion of a retroperitoneal hematoma, revealing an interval development of a right groin complex fluid collection of up to 6 cm, concerning a possible hematoma. The patient did not have any previous vascular procedures in the area but was exposed to deep vein thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis during the previous admission. Vascular surgery was consulted, and the recommendation was made to proceed with conservative management. On the third day, the patient developed new-onset, left-sided pleuritic chest pain. Upon examination, significant swelling and tenderness were noted in his left pectoral region, which was not present on admission. A CT chest without contrast was ordered due to concerns of underlying hematomas, revealing bilateral thickening of the pectoralis muscles, more on the right side, with a fluid collection of 2.5 cm × 1.3 cm. In addition, there was thickening of the right lateral chest wall muscles in the posterior right trapezius or supraspinatus muscles, most likely from intramuscular hemorrhage. The patient was transferred to the step-down unit for close monitoring. Conservative management was continued with as-needed transfusions for three days until hemoglobin stabilized at 9.8 mg/dL. Once stable, the patient was resumed on steroids and immunosuppressive therapy with posterior resolution of the SIH. SIH has been reported in DM, particularly more prominent in those with anti-MDA-5 antibodies. A case series and literature review showed 60.9% mortality within six months in those presenting with SIH, with a poorer prognosis (80% mortality) in those with deep muscle bleeding versus superficial (25%). There is currently no consensus on the treatment approach, and arterial embolization has not been proven effective. In our patient, conservative management with close surveillance and frequent transfusions helped achieve hemodynamic stability. Clinicians should be more aware of these rare but life-threatening complications in patients presenting with DM., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2023, Bartl et al.)

Spontaneous hematoma of the iliopsoas muscle is rare but may cause limitation of hip flexion and functional inability of the affected limb, mimicking avascular necrosis of the femoral head in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis. We report a rare case of spontaneous iliopsoas hematoma that caused a positive Patrick's sign and mimicked avascular necrosis in a patient with alcoholic liver cirrhosis. A 35-year-old female presented with left inguinal pain and limitation of motion. She had a history of alcoholic liver cirrhosis. On physical examination, Patrick's sign was positive, suggestive of hip joint pathology. The Child-Pugh score was 9 and an acute decline in hemoglobin level was noted. Computed tomography scan of the abdomen indicated a 20-cm-sized hematoma along the left iliopsoas muscle. Because the patient's liver function was poor and there was no evidence of active bleeding from the iliopsoas muscle, a conservative treatment option was taken. On follow-up computed tomography one month later, the size of the hematoma decreased to 3.3 cm. Although avascular necrosis occurs frequently in patients with chronic alcohol intake, clinicians should be aware of iliopsoas muscle hematoma mimicking avascular necrosis as a clinically important bleeding complication of alcoholic liver cirrhosis patients to avoid delays in diagnosis and treatment.

Cocaine use can result in a few infrequent complications, among which is localized hematoma. As far as we know, there are very few cases reporting cocaine-induced non-traumatic muscle hematoma complicated by severe transaminitis and rhabdomyolysis. Here we present a patient who developed a significant lower extremity muscle hematoma secondary to inhalational cocaine use. We are reporting this case to bring to light this rare and unusual complication of cocaine use. With recreational use of this drug being so prominent in the patient population, early recognition of this complication can help expedite treatment and reduce the severity of end-organ damage., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2022, Mainali et al.)

Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019, COVID-19, as a global public health emergency, has come with a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations and complications. In this study, we present a unique complication of this disease. PRESENTATION OF CASES: (A) A 65-year-old woman with a known case of COVID-19; on the second day of admission, the patient presented sudden tachycardia and hypogastric pain; on abdomen physical examination, a huge lower abdominal tender mass was noticed. (B) A 50-year-old woman with COVID-19, 4 days after admission, started complaining of tachycardia, pain, and mass in the lower abdomen. On abdomen physical examination, a huge lower abdominal tender mass was noticed. Both of the patients underwent an abdomen CT scan which confirmed a huge rectus sheath hematoma (RSH). Both of the patients underwent angioembolization of the inferior epigastric artery. The patient recovered completely and no evidence of further expansion was seen after 2 weeks of follow-up., Discussion: Hemorrhagic issues in COVID-19 patients remain poorly understood. Physicians should discuss risks of RSH in patients where continuous anticoagulation therapy will be reinstated. With increased clinician awareness of the need for RSH screening in COVID-19 patients with acute abdominal pain, the interprofessional team of healthcare providers can maximize patient safety and reduce hospitalization time, especially in high-risk patients at risk for unnecessary surgery., Conclusions: These two reports and literature review demonstrate the need of active surveillance for possible hemorrhagic complications in patients with COVID-19 infection., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

We report a case of 79-year-old male with prostate cancer and coagulation disorder presented with left shoulder pain. He underwent bone scintigraphy to rule out metastasis, which showed intense foci of tracer activity in the left axilla. Hybrid single-photon emission tomography-computed tomography (SPECT/CT) of the shoulder region localized tracer uptake to the left brachialis muscle hematoma.

Iliopsoas muscle hematoma in a patient with alcoholic liver cirrhosis is rarely seen, however it has a high mortality. Thus we should cautiously make a diagnosis and treatment. This is the case of a 60-year-old male. He had a 15-year history of alcoholic liver disease and emphysema. He presented with low back pain after a fall that had happened 2 months before. Due to persistent back pain, he went to see a local physician who, after detailed examination, suspected rupture of bilateral common iliac artery aneurysms and transferred the patient to our hospital. The same presumptive diagnosis was made, and on this basis, an aortic bifemoral Y-graft was implanted. He developed aspiration pneumonia and hepatic and renal dysfunction postoperatively, which led to multiple organ failure and subsequent in-hospital death on postoperative day 62. This was believed to be a case of iliopsoas muscle hematoma developed in a patient with liver cirrhosis, and considering it was a case with poor surgical risk, a conservative treatment option such as transcatheter arterial embolization should also have been considered. Although iliopsoas muscle hematoma with alcoholic liver cirrhosis is rare, an appropriate treatment plan should be determined on a case-by-case basis despite its poor prognosis.